Refrigerating apparatus



g- 19, 1930- M. H. ACKERMAN 1,773,213

REFRIGERAT ING APPARATUS Filed May 2, 192's 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 Zjl|||||||||||l|l|| llllllg W X hide/karma 2 3mm Aug. 19, 1930. M. H. ACK-ERMAN 1,773,213

REFRIGERAT ING APPARATUS Filed May 2, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 "j jg 2.

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M, H. ACKERMAN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Shet 3 Filed May 2, 1928 Mfibickewmz 0 abtocmeqo.

Patented Aug. 19, 19311 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MICHAEL H. ACKERMAN, or MANSFIELD, onr nssrouon OF-ONE-HALF 'ro Louis 0. SICKEL, OF CALEDONIA, o'EIo REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application filed May 2,

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus one of the objects being to provide apparatus of unit design in which the ammonia receiver, oil trap, crank case, scale trap, and compressor are embodied into a piece of standard piping which facilitates a construction so economical that small bore and long stroke compressors may be used on any capacity machines instead of equal dimension bore and stroke compressors which are now used due to limitations of design hereinafter described.

Another object is to provide apparatus of this character having means for the removal or replacement of pistons and their connecting rods, without tearing down any part of the unit. Heretofore connecting rods were withdrawn through the cylinder bores which restricted design to large bore and short stroke machines.

A further object is the construction of refrigerating apparatus housing unit, whereby minimum floor space is required for holding the unit.

A still further object is to provide a refrigerating apparatus housing unit, all parts of which are fabricated from standard mill shapes and reduce the excessively large openings required for placement and removal of the crankshaft which heretofore has been a factor in making the cost of refrigerating units of small bore and long stroke excessive.

A further object is to design a refrigerating apparatus housing adapted to receive the crank shaft, having ample bearing surfaces, and eliminating the spaces required for a stufiing box which are objectionable for the reasons set forth in my application Serial Number-250,224, filed on January 28, 1928.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds the invention resides in the'combination and arrangement'of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the pre- 1928. Serial No. 274,588.

ferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the apparatus showing more particularly the housing structure.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on line 44, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section through a portion of the structure on line 55,-Figure 3.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates a length of pipe formed preferably of steel the diameter of which depends on the capacity of the refrigerating apparatus to be constructed. Seated in the lower end of this pipe and held in place by welding is a bottom plate 2 and another plate 3 is welded in the pipe at a point above the plate 1, the space within the pipe between these plates 2 and 3 constituting the combined ammonia receiver and oil trap of the apparatus.- This receiver has been indicated generally at 4. The plate 3 not only constitutes the upper end of the ammonia receiver but also constitutes the bottom of the crank case which is located in an intermediate portion of the pipe, this case being shown generally at 5. Formed in the wall of the case at diametrically opposed points are openings 6 in which are fitted sleeves 7 held in place by welding to the pipe. These sleeves constitute means for receiving the bearing elements 8 and 9 in which are journalled the end portions of the crank shaft 10 of the compressor. The bearing elements are held in place by bolts 11 and it is obvious that, by removing the bearing element 8, the crank shaft can be removed readily through the sleeve 7. The specific construction of the removable parts of the bearing constitutes no part of the present invention, and therefore, these structures have not been shown or described in detail. It might be stated, how: ever, that one end of the crankshaft projects radially beyond the pipe 1 and is connected to a wheel 12 adapted to be driven by a suitable motor located preferably adjacent the bottom of the pipe and transmitting motion to the wheel 12 through a belt 13.

The upper end of the crank case 5 is formed I of a plate 14 fitted within the pipe 1 above v sh ll 26 can be used annular flange 28 carried by the low the upper end thereof.

the crank shaft 10 and fitting snugly against and welded to the pipe. Another plate is welded in the upper end of the pipe 1. Extending through this plate 15 and held thereto by welding, or by rivets or bolts, are the cylinders 16 of the compressor. These cylinders are extendedthrou h the plate 14 and the upper ends of the cy inders are surrounded by sleeves 17 welded thereto and ex tended therebeyond. The upper ends of the cylinder 16 constitute seats 18 for valves 19 which are guided'within the projecting portions ofthe sleeves 17 and are held normally against their seats 18 by springs 20. These springs'extend around outlet ports 21 formed in a cap 22 which is seated on the sleeves 17 and clamped tightly thereto by bolts 23 which extend downwardly through the cap adjacent the margin thereof into nuts 24 which are welded on the plate 15. Ports 21,

as will be obvious, communicate with the condensing coil 25 which, as shown in the drawings, extends around the cap 22, cylinders 16, and the upper ortion of pipe 1, A or housing the coil, the lower portion of this shell being provided with a ring 27 which is seated on an pipe 1 be- Pistons 29 are mounted for reciprocation within the cylinders 16' and each piston is connected by a rod 30 to one of the cranks of the shaft 10. Each of these rods 30 can be formed of separate members welded together as indicated at 30' although, if desired, each rod can be fashioned out of a single length of material. Each of the pistons 29 has one 'or more longitudinal slots 29' adjacent the center thereof, said piston being hollow and valved as hereinafter explained. Formed within the pipe 1 below the level of the crank shaft 10 is a hand hole 31 closed by a cap 32 which is detachably held in lace in any suitable manner, as by means 0? threaded studs 33.

. The space within the upper portion of the pipe 1 between the plates 14 and 15 constitutes a combined gas chamber and scale trap 34 for receiving gas returned from the" expansion coils of the refrigerating system through a pipe P. At suitable points intake ports 35 are provided in the cylinders 16 of the compressor, these ports opening into the said chamber 34 and being controlled by'the reciprocation of the pistons 29. It is to be understood that these pistons are suitably valved as shown for example at 36 in Figure" 1 so that, during the compression stroke of each piston the valve will close while during the reverse stroke gas will enter the slots 29' in the pistons and the valve will 0 11 thereby to permit the flow of gas into 't e space beyond the piston where it can subsequently be placed under compression and expelled.

Attention is directed to the fact that the main housin of this. apparatus is formed I out of an or lnary steel pipe, that the cylinders are similarly formed of tubing and are held in the housing'by welding them within plate 15 or by bolting or riveting them. The combined ammonia receiver and oil trap, crank case, and combined gas compartment and scale'trap, are all, superposed within the housing pipe so that, when this pipe is erected onend, the complete apparatus will occupy a very small area. A further feature of importance to which attention is called is the construction of the cylinders of the compressor. These cylinders are not formed with bosses or enlargements for cylinder head stud bolts or waterjacket, which would necessitate the use of expensive castings. Instead each cylinder is formed of a length of tubing with the sleeve 17 mounted on one end and held thereto by Welding. This sleeve constitutes a support for the cap 22 and also cooperates with the cap to provide ders, and this item alone saves materially in the cost of the construction of the unit.

A still further feature of construction which is decidedly advantageous is the loca tion of the hand hole 31. Heretofore, when it has been desired to remove the pistons of the compressor, it has been necessary to dismantle the upper portion of the compressor and after the piston rods have been disconnected in some way from the drive shaft, the pistons with their rods have been withdrawn upwardl from the. cylinders which heretofore has imited design to large bore and short stroke units. Piston removal has been an expensive. operation requiring considerable time and skill. With the present arrangement, however, the cap 32 can be removed from the opening 31 and the mechanic, by reaching through the hand hole can detach the piston rods from the cranks of the shaft 10. These rods can be swung laterally so as to escape the crank, the pistons can be withdrawn downwardly from the cylinders 16, and the lower ends of the piston rods can be pulled outwardly through the hand hole folowed by the pistons. This operation can be reversed when replacing pistons within the loo parts, manufacturing cost is greatly reduced,

and servicing the unit is simplified. I also eliminate those limitations of design in other stuc tures imposed by the necessity of using large cylinder bores to' permit the insertion through them of bearings and crank pins of proper sizes and shapes.

' end of the cylinder constituting a valve seat as they do not in themselves constitute any part of the present invention.

It is to be understood that, if desired, the ammonia receiver can be of the usual shell and tube type of receiver condenser in which event it will take the place of the condenser shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In refrigerating apparatus -a housing including a pipe, plates within and welded to the pipe for dividing the interior of the pipe into an ammonia receiver, acrank case and a combined gas chamber and scale trap,

tubing connected to one of said plates and projecting from one end of the housing and constituting a cylinder, a sleeve connected to and-surrounding the projecting end of the cylinder and extending therebeyond, the

and the projection portion of the sleeve constituting a valve guide.

2. Ina refrigerating apparatus a housing structure formed in a single piece including a length of cylindrical pipe, and plates dividing the pipe transversely into superposed portions constituting respectively an ammonia receiver, a crank case, and a combined gas chamber and scale trap, all of said portions being of the same diameter.

3. In a refrigerating [apparatus a housing structure formed in a single piece including a pipe, plates dividing the pipetransversely into superposed portions constituting respectively an ammonia'receiver, a crank case, and a combined gas chamber and scale trap, and

; diametrically opposed alining sleeves extending into and integral with the pipe for the reception of bearing elements.

4. In a refrigerating apparatus a one-piece housing structure including a pipe, transverse plates integral therewith dividing the interior of the pipe into superposed compartments constituting respectively an ammonia receiver, a crank case, and a combined gas chamber and scale trap having an inlet for gas, a cylinder extending through and joined to the plates at one end of the pipe, said cylinder comprising a single length of standard tubing having a port for receiving gas from the scale trap, and a sleeve extending around and integral with the outer projecting end portion of the cylinder, said sleeve projecting beyond the end of the cylinder to provide a valve casing, the end of the casing constituting a valve seat.

' 5. In a refrigerating apparatus a housing formed in asingle piece including a length of pipe, lates dividing the pipe transversely and orming superposed compartments constituting, respectively," an ammonia receiver, a crank case and a combined gas chamber and scale trap, a cylinder connected to the plate at one end of the pipe and extending longitudinally within and beyond the j of the first named opening for the inset 1 tion and removal of pistons by the shaft. v

v 6. In a refrigerating apparatus a one-piece housing including a single length of pipe,-

to be actuated I partitions integral therewith dividing the interior of the pipe into non-communicating compartments constituting, respectlvely, an

ammonia receiver, a crank case and a com- I bined gas chamber and scale trap, a tube joined to one of the plates and extending through the scale trap, said tube constituting a'cylinder one end of which pro ects beyond the pipe and constitutes a valve seat, a sleeve joined to said endof the cylinder and projecting beyond the seat to .constltute a valve housing, there being diametrically opposed openings in the wall of the crank case for the reception of a drive shaft, and ahand hole in the wall of the crank case ad acent to the level of the first named openings for the insertion and removal ofpistons adapted to be used in the cylinder.

' 7. Ina refrigerating apparatus the comb nation with a pipe constituting a housing, of partitionsin superposed compartments constituting, respectively, a lower compartment or ammonla receiver, an intermediate compartment or crank case, and an upper compartment form-.

the pipe dividing the same into ing a combinedgas chamber and scale trap,

said partitions being formed in one piece with the pipe, a tube extending throughthe scale trap and joined to one of the partitions, said tube constitutinga cylinder, there be ng (11- ametrically opposed openings in the wall of the crank case, an operating shaft extending into the openings, a piston within the cylinder, and a rod connection between the piston ment forming an ammonia receiver, an inter mediate compartment forming a crank case,

pipe into superposed compartments constition adjacent thereto, said tubes having ports opening into the scale trap andhaving ends projecting'outwardly, from the pipe to consti' tute valve seats, sleeves joined y welding to the outer ends of said tubes, and projecting therebeyond to' constitute valve casings, said tubes with their sleeves constituting cylinders, pistons mounted for reciprocation within the res ective cylinders, a crank shaft journaled in t e housing ipe, rod connections between the crank sha t and the pistons, there being a hand hole in the housing pipe adjacent to the level of the crank shaft, and a removable closurefor the hand hole, said hand hole providing means for the withdrawal of the pistons from the cylinders and pipe and for the insertion of said pistons into the pipe and cylinders.

9. In a refrigerating apparatus a single length of pipe constituting a housing, partition plates within the housing dividing it transversely into superposed compartments constituting, respectively, a lower compartment forming an ammonia receiver, an intermediate compartment formingva crank case, and an upper compartment forming a combined gas chamber and scale trap, and compressor cylinders extending through and opening into the scale trap and connected to the adjacent partition. I

10. In a refrigerating apparatus a single length of pipe constituting a housing, partition plates within the housing dividing it transversely into superposed compartments constituting, respectlvely, a lower compartand an upper compartment forming a com- Y bined gas chamber and scale trap, and compressor cylinders extending through the scale tra and joined to one of the plates, each of sai cylinders constituting a length of standard tubing one end of which projects beyond the housing pipe to constitute a valve seat, and a sleeve extending around and joined to the projecting end of each'cylinder and projecting beyond said end to constitute a valve housin .11. l n a refrigerating apparatus a housing including a pipe, plates within and welded to the pipe for dividing the interior of the pipe'into an ammonia receiver, a crank case, and a combined gas chamber and scale trap,

I tubing welded within one of said plates and projectin from one end of the housing and constituting a cylinder, a cap for closing the outer end of the cylinder, threaded means extending from and integral with one of the plates, and means extending through the cap into engagement with the threaded means for holding the cap-cylinder and plate againstrelative movement.

12. In a refrigerating apparatus a single length of pipe constituting a housing, parti- 4 tion plates within the housing dividing it transversely into superposed compartments constituting, respectively, a lower compartment forming an ammonia receiver, an intermediate compartment forming a crank case, and an upper compartment forming a combined gas chamber and scale trap, and compressor cylinders extending through the scale trap and joined to oneoftheplates,each of said cylinders constituting a length of standard tubing one end of which projects beyond the housing pipe to constitute a valve seat, a sleeve extending around and joined to the projecting end of each cylinder and projecting beyond said end to constitute a valve housing, an outlet cap mounted on the projecting sleeves, interiorly screw threaded projections on one of the plates of the main housing, and bolts engaging said rojections and extending through the cap or binding the cap upon the sleeves.

13. In a refrigerating apparatus a onepiece housing including a single length of pipe, partitions dividing the interior of the pipe into non-communicating compartments constituting, respectively, an ammonia receiver, a crank case, and a combined gas chamber and a scale trap, a tube joined to one of the partitions and extending through the scale trap, said tube constituting a compressor cylinder, there being diametrically opposed openings in the wall of the crank case for the reception of a drive shaft, there also being a hand hole in the wall of the crank case adjacent to the level of the first named opening for the insertion and removal of a piston adapted to be used in the cylinder.

14. In a refrigerating apparatus a housing structure formed'in a single piece including a pipe, plates dividing the pipe transversely into superposed portions constituting, respectively, an ammonia receiver, a crank case, and a combined gas chamber and scale trap, diametrically opposed alining sleeves opening into and carried by the pipe, bearing elements removably connected to and adapted to close the sleeves, said elements constituting means for engaging a crank shaft within the pipe, said heating elements, when removed, providing openings in the sleeves for the insertion and withdrawal of the crank shaft. I

15. In a refrigerating apparatus a housing structure including a single length of cylindrical pipe, plates dividing the pipe transversely into superposed portions constituting respectively an ammonia receiver," a crank 16. In a refrigerating apparatus ahousing structure including a pipe, plates dividing the pipe transversely into superposed portions constituting respectively an ammonia receiver, a crank case, a combined gas chamber and scale trap and diametrically opposed alining sleeves extending into and integral with the pipefor the reception of bearing elements.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

MICHAEL H. AGKERMAN. 

